12 Italians killed in attack in Iraq

An explosion rocked the headquarters of the Italian Carabinieri police in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah today, killing at least 12 Italians and possibly trapping others under the debris.

The Italian president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, called the bombing a "terrorist act".

The explosive device went off about 10.40am Iraqi time (6.40pm AEDT) at the multinational specialist unit in the southern city, the Carabinieri said in a statement. The statement said that the explosion occurred in front of the base, near the Iraqi chamber of commerce.

A police official, General Serafino Liberati, confirmed that 12 Italians were dead: nine paramilitary police and three army soldiers.

Major Roberto Riccardi of the Carabinieri said the building was in flames, and that some Italians may be under the debris, although details were difficult to come by because communication had been severed.

"We cannot exclude the possibility that there are soldiers under the rubble," he said in a telephone interview.

The Carabinieri also said there might have been injuries among Iraqis.

Italy has sent about 2300 troops to help the reconstruction in Iraq. About 300 Carabinieri are based in the Nasiriyah camp, along with 110 Romanians.

Everyone was believed to have been inside the building at the time of the blast, because it occurred early in the morning, Major Riccardi said.

Carabinieri are paramilitary police under the Defence Ministry, and frequently serve in international missions such as in Afghanistan and the Balkans.

Mr Ciampi said the attack wouldn't deter Italy's efforts to help the United States and other countries in the international fight against terrorism. He is due to travel to Washington shortly to meet President George Bush.

Since August, vehicle bombs have targeted several international buildings, including the United Nations headquarters, the offices of the international Red Cross, the Baghdad Hotel and the Turkish and Jordanian embassies in Baghdad.

Nasiriyah, a Shi'ite city, had been relatively quiet in recent months, although it was the scene of heavy fighting during the war. It was where the 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed in March and where a number of Americans were captured, including Private Jessica Lynch.

Until today, there had been no combat-related fatalities among Italian troops serving in the multinational force.

Pietro Cordone, the Italian official heading US efforts to recover Iraq's looted antiquities, was in a car that came under mistaken US fire in northern Iraq in September. His Iraqi interpreter was killed in the shooting.